idea

[ahy-dee-uh, ahy-deeuh]

noun

1. any conception existing in the mind as a result of mental understanding, awareness, or activity.

2. a thought, conception, or notion.

   That is an excellent idea.

3. an impression.

   He gave me a general idea of how he plans to run the department.

4. an opinion, view, or belief.

   His ideas on raising children are certainly strange.

   Synonyms: judgment, sentiment

5. a plan of action; an intention.

   the idea of becoming an engineer.

6. a groundless supposition; fantasy.

7. Philosophy.

   1. a concept developed by the mind.

   2. a conception of what is desirable or ought to be; ideal.

   3. Also called form. (initial capital letter),  an archetype or pattern of which the individual objects in any natural class are imperfect copies and from which they derive their being.

   4. Kantianism.,  idea of pure reason.

8. Music.,  a theme, phrase, or figure.

9. Obsolete.

   1. a likeness.

   2. a mental image.

idea

¹

/ aɪˈdɪə /

noun

1. any content of the mind, esp the conscious mind

2. the thought of something

   the very idea appals me

3. a mental representation of something

   she's got a good idea of the layout of the factory

4. the characterization of something in general terms; concept

   the idea of a square circle is self-contradictory

5. an individual's conception of something

   his idea of honesty is not the same as yours and mine

6. the belief that something is the case

   he has the idea that what he's doing is right

7. a scheme, intention, plan, etc

   here's my idea for the sales campaign

8. a vague notion or indication; inkling

   he had no idea of what life would be like in Africa

9. significance or purpose

   the idea of the game is to discover the murderer

10. philosophy

    1. a private mental object, regarded as the immediate object of thought or perception

    2. a Platonic Idea or Form

11. music a thematic phrase or figure; motif

12. obsolete,  a mental image

13. to become ambitious, restless, etc

14. not what one regards as (hard work, a holiday, etc)

15. that is worth considering

16. that is preposterous, unreasonable, etc

Idea

²

/ aɪˈdɪə /

noun

1. another name for Form

Usage

It is usually considered correct to say that someone has the idea of doing something, rather than the idea to do it: he had the idea of taking (not the idea to take ) a short holiday

Other Word Forms

• idealess adjective
• preidea noun
• subidea noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of idea¹

First recorded in 1400–50; from Late Latin from Greek idéā “form, pattern,” equivalent to ide- (stem of ideîn “to see”) + -ā feminine noun ending; replacing late Middle English idee from Middle French from Late Latin, as above; akin to wit ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of idea¹

C16: via Late Latin from Greek: model, pattern, notion, from idein to see

Idioms and Phrases

see bright idea; put ideas in someone's head; what's the idea.

Example Sentences

The research adds weight to the so-called "drunken monkey" hypothesis - the idea that the human appetite for alcohol was inherited from our primate ancestors.

From BBC

Ohtani came up with the idea to defer the majority of his $700-million contract until after he retires, wanting the Dodgers to spend that money to build super teams around him.

From Los Angeles Times

In 2022, Stephen Miller wrote, “If the idea of free speech enrages you — the cornerstone of democratic self-government — then I regret to inform you that you are a fascist.”

From Salon

Hernandez, whose district includes part of the Eastside, said council members remain open to the idea of the Convention Center expansion as the project heads to a final vote.

From Los Angeles Times

Deliberative democracy is the idea that decision-making and governance are arrived at through thoughtful, reasoned and respectful dialogue.

From Salon

Related Words

• belief 
• concept 
• conception 
• conclusion 
• design 
• feeling 
• form 
• intention 
• interpretation 
• meaning 
• notion 
• objective 
• opinion 
• perception 
• plan 
• scheme 
• sense 
• solution 
• suggestion 
• theory 

When To Use

What are other ways to say idea?

An idea is any conception existing in the mind as a result of mental understanding, awareness, or activity. How is idea different from thought, conception, and notion? Learn more on Thesaurus.com.